A Multi-Objective Scheduling Strategy for a Hybrid Energy System for Antarctic Coastal Research Stations

Abstract

A large number of research stations have been established to provide members of Antarctic expeditions with logistical support. A previous study confirmed that the wind and solar energy resources of the Chinese Zhongshan Station, a coastal station located in an area of Lassmann Hills in East Antarctica, are highly synergetic and complementary. Considering the demand for a renewable energy power supply in Zhongshan Station, this paper introduces a hybrid energy system with wind–solar–diesel–battery co-generation used as a power supply scheme. Based on the 2015 climate data for Zhongshan Station, the wind–solar resources, conventional energy system, and annual diesel consumption of the station area were analyzed. The annual electrical load demand of each building in the station area was quantitatively expounded. Compared with the original power supply system, and combined with the analysis results of the thermal load and electrical load demands of the station, an objective function based on the requirements of economy, reliability, and environmental protection was presented. According to the constraint conditions of the heat energy and electrical energy load balance in the station area, a multi-objective scheduling strategy for the system was designed. Finally, the effects of this scheduling strategy were analyzed under three different application scenarios. The results indicated that the annual load demand was significantly lower than before the scheduling, and that a 50% reduction in diesel consumption could be achieved, demonstrating that the multi-objective scheduling strategy proposed in this paper could achieve optimal energy scheduling and management of the renewable hybrid energy system.